title: Prolonged use of wind or brass instruments does not alter lung function in musicians.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Respiratory function impacts on musical expression for wind/brass (W/B) musicians. Investigation of musicians' respiratory health to date has rarely progressed further than assessments of flow limitation through spirometry. This study aimed to compare W/B musicians' respiratory function to a non-wind/brass (NW/B) group with a comprehensive respiratory function assessment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Non-smoking, non-asthmatic participants aged 18-60 years completed a respiratory health questionnaire followed by spirometry, static lung volumes, respiratory mechanics, using forced oscillations, gas transfer and airway responsiveness (AR). Measurements were compared between participant groups using T-tests and linear regression modelling.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Data from 102 participants (55 W/B musicians and 47 NW/B subjects) were included in the analysis. There were no differences between the two groups for any spirometry or lung volume outcomes, with the exception of RV/TLC which was decreased among W/B musicians (p=0.03). Measures of gas transfer and AR were similar between participant groups. Resistance at 6 Hz, measured by forced oscillation, was increased among W/B musicians compared to NW/B musicians (p=0.02) but reactance at 6 Hz was similar between the groups (p=0.10).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggest that W/B musicians' do not have altered respiratory function when compared to a non-musical control group. However, increased R(rs6) may indicate inflammatory, remodelling or other pathophysiological processes associated with W/B playing. Although the difference between groups was small it warrants further investigation.
authors.affiliation: School of Population Health, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia.
authors.forename: Anita G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Fuhrmann
authors.forename: Peter J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Franklin
authors.forename: Graham L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Hall
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009146:Music; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012143:Respiratory Physiological Phenomena; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult